United Methodist bishops call for a 'Clean Dream Act'

10/9/2017

United Methodist bishops are urging the United States Congress to pass a Clean Dream Act that would allow undocumented young people the opportunity to work, receive an education and serve in the U.S. military.

In a statement released last week, the bishops said they are praying and urging action for the young people affected by the U.S. government’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The young immigrants, also known as Dreamers, had an October 5 deadline to renew their permits one last time.

“We are praying for DACA recipients and their families and all undocumented immigrant communities as they continue to find themselves in the unending crisis of being undocumented in this country. By March 5, 2018, Congress must determine how it will respond to this crisis. We urge Congress to begin by passing a Clean Dream Act,” the statement from the bishops said.

The statement signed by Council of Bishops President Bishop Bruce R. Ough and Bishop Minerva Carcaño, chair of the COB Immigration Task Force, noted that a Clean Dream Act should not be used to pit undocumented young people against their parents, families, and immigrant communities.

“We continue to believe that government leaders have the wisdom and the resources at their disposal to create and implement a Clean Dream Act that will protect vulnerable young people for whom the U.S. is the only home they know and have,” the bishops said, adding that, “A Clean Dream Act could be the beginning of helpful and healing immigration reform in the U.S., and even inspire the reform of migration laws around the world that would help young people everywhere.”